Karma

At this moment, Bai Zongnan had fully entered the world of legends. With flashes of white light, countless scenes rushed past his eyes, gradually coalescing into a unique flow of images and memories in his mind.

The reason this experience was unique lay in the clarity he still retained after entering the mythic world.

“Wait, wasn’t there supposed to be the confusion of the womb?” Bai Zongnan wondered.

Right now, Bai Zongnan felt not the slightest bit lost. Compared to the simulated scenes in the fragments of the mythic realm he’d experienced before, he was even more clear-headed. It was as though he were observing himself from a third-person perspective, witnessing his own entry into the world of legends, preparing for reincarnation.

A buzzing sound resonated, and before his eyes appeared a special frame.

On either side, countless golden and silver threads entwined around him, stretching forward to form something like a screen. At the same time, a special intuition emerged within him, allowing him to make a choice.

‘Origin Simulation:’

‘① Born into a well-off family, life smooth and easy. (Derived from the mythic crystal)’

‘② Born into a family of martial honors with some assets, trained in martial arts from childhood. (Derived from the experiences of the body)’

“Is this a choice?” Bai Zongnan pressed his lips together, considering the options. He made his decision: “Then I’ll choose the second—born into a martial family with assets, trained in martial arts from youth.”

His intuition made it clear: the first option came from the mythic crystal, the second from his body’s prior experiences.

Since it was based on his own body, it could be traced to that prior experience resembling Wu Song.

“To know martial arts from a young age, and to be part of a martial family, is a tremendous advantage for cultivating the martial path.” Bai Zongnan knew well that descending into the world of legends was not merely about resolving karmic debts for the heavens or solving crises for the sanctified realm.

Every descender gained much experience and stories throughout the process, and could even acquire martial legacies and rare encounters that could be brought back to the sanctified world as precious rewards!

If his current self in the mythic realm was excellent from childhood, the probability of acquiring legacies and encounters would be far greater.

Thus, as Bai Zongnan confirmed his choice, the intuitive dialogue box vanished. The still darkness before him transformed into brilliance, and amid the cries of a newborn, a child was delivered into the arms of the midwife.

Scenes flashed by—nursing, growth, gradually reaching the age of six.

The infant had become a child.

A buzzing sound hummed, and golden and silver threads once again emerged from Bai Zongnan’s brow, manifesting another intuitive dialogue box before his eyes.

Again, he was to choose.

‘Talent Simulation:’

‘① You possess rare wisdom, your temperament steady; you appear clever and lively, your words and deeds mature beyond your years, quickly earning everyone’s favor and recognition. (Derived from the mythic crystal)’

‘② Daily, you are lively and mischievous, fond of running about; everyone says you’re a cheeky little soldier. (Derived from the body’s experience)’

‘Life Trajectory:’

‘① You are noticed by the General, who wishes to adopt you as his foster son. (Benefactor’s support)’

‘② Your father intends to send you to study and learn to read. (Derived from the body’s experience)’

‘③ Your father plans to teach you the family martial arts. (Derived from the body’s experience)’

“For talent simulation, there’s only one choice—rare wisdom. That’s a must,” Bai Zongnan thought, looking over the options. The first talent was undoubtedly preferable to being a little soldier.

As for the life trajectory, Bai Zongnan was quite attentive.

“There are three options, but whether it’s studying or martial arts training, neither is as useful as the first—being supported by a benefactor and adopted by the General.” Having lived two lives, Bai Zongnan recognized a path straight into Rome when he saw it, and hesitated not at all.

“Choose the first for life trajectory!” he decided.

The golden and silver threads vanished, the still images before his eyes began to move once more, rapidly advancing.

The scenes depicted a youth favored by a robust General who adopted him as his foster son. He studied, practiced martial arts, even fought on the battlefield. At age sixteen, when he came of age, the images paused again.

Golden and silver threads appeared, and a new intuitive dialogue box regarding his life trajectory surfaced in Bai Zongnan’s mind.

‘Life Trajectory:’

‘① Ordination into Buddhism: Years of killing have left you weary of your current life. By chance, you discover Buddhist scriptures that provoke deep reflection. You wish to leave the secular world and seek yourself within a monastery. (Derived from the mythic crystal, can dispel the confusion of the womb)’

‘② Martial Training in Buddhism: You notice that the Buddhist order possesses impressive martial arts. To become stronger, you join a monastery as a martial monk. (Derived from the body’s experience, can increase martial cultivation)’

“Choose the second! Martial Training in Buddhism!” Bai Zongnan immediately decided.

The first option—ordination—could resolve the confusion of the womb, but was it useful to someone who already possessed self-awareness?

The second option, to become a martial monk and enhance his martial cultivation, was far more tempting!

‘You became a martial monk, born into the military, favored by your superiors, and sent to County L for certain reasons.’

‘You are a Dharma Protector disciple of Buddhism... Lu Zhishen! (Derived from the body’s experience, favored by superiors, sent to County L.)’

‘...’

‘You became a martial monk, born into the military, favored by your superiors, and sent to County L.’

‘In County L, you met a beautiful woman...’

‘She was the chief physician of County L. Because you performed a heroic rescue, you were granted the post of chief imperial physician.’

‘You flourished in Lang County, grew close to the female benefactor, and finally, together you journeyed to the afterlife...’

‘Because both of you died, your wife also perished tragically, your mother was overwhelmed with grief and ultimately followed you...’

‘Because you both died for love, the ending was bleak. Your elder brother, devastated, killed you in a drunken accident; your father, enraged, slew his only brother.’

(Derived from the body’s experience, the cycle of karma is inexorable.)